eNewsletter

From the Principal As Dorothy said to Toto in the Wizard of Oz, there is no place like home. It is great to be back at Kardinia after my sabbatical leave last term. I had a fantastic experience, visited many interesting schools, and had a lot of conversations with esteemed educators, made some great professional connections and had lots of opportunity to reflect on our school and ways we can continue to make it even better. At the same time, I was also able to reflect on how lucky I am to lead…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie During this term there have been many media reports on the negative impacts of technology on students. The depression and anxiety caused by cyber bullying, unhealthy sleep patterns, negative body image exposure, social media addiction etc. are certainly cause for concern. The emerging use of Generative AI to manipulate images presents further challenges and dangers. At Kardinia, we recognise the impact mobile phones, social media platforms and…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie The injuries sportsmen and sportswomen are faced with can have lasting impacts. Concussion has been widely featured in recent times. The information and policy links provided below are an invaluable resource for the College community and will assist you in understanding our approach to this important matter. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has recently published updated Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport.  The Guidelines have…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie Winter has arrived and, along with it, a rise in respiratory infections: Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 infection rates are all significantly increasing in the College community. The advice and guidance provided below are taken from the Department of Education and the Department of Health. I provide this information to further support our school community during this winter season. It is recommended that staff members, students or visitors who have…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie This week we have been celebrating Reconciliation Week. We have welcomed many visitors to the College to help us learn about and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements. Yirrmal performed the Manikay which is the singing in language of clan songs of the Yolngu of north-east Arnhem Land, accompanied by the playing of bilma (clap sticks) for our students and staff. Sinem Saban, the Director of the film, Luku Ngarra, spoke…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie Celebrating the life of Norm Jurrawaa Stanley Last week we learnt that Norm Jurrawaa Stanley, a true friend of the Kardinia International College Community, had passed away from cancer. This Friday at 10.30 am a funeral service will be held in the Katsumata Centre for family and friends to celebrate the life of Norm Stanley. A number of staff will represent the College community at the service. Norm was a talented musician, artist, storyteller, and…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie Last weekend I was fortunate to attend a “History Alive! Geelong Eastern Cemetery tour,” presented as part of the Australian Heritage Festival. The tour involved actors providing us with insights into the many historical figures buried at Eastern Cemetery. One presentation was on Zillah Crawcour who served the City of Newtown as a Councillor from 1957 - 1977 and died in office as Mayor in March 1977. One story shared with us was how Zillah Crawcour, as…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie During this past week, I have witnessed many instances where our school community has actively engaged in initiatives aimed at fostering a sustainable future. This aligns perfectly with our Strategic Plan, where sustainability is a goal we are earnestly striving to achieve. I was privileged to join two classes of Year Twelve Environmental Science students on their evening excursion to Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre. Mt Rothwell is the…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie Each year we commemorate the opening of Kardinia International College which occurred on 28 April 1996. We began with thirty year seven, eight and nine students and seventy kindergarten students. The opening ceremony held out a promise that we would grow and develop into an outstanding school. Last term when the weather was warmer, we spent a day attending Adventure Park. This was a Founders’ Day celebration where the entire school gathered in friendship…